Reversing Camera with Mirror Monitor Good or Bad?

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Or you could do what I did and buy the OE camera with an upgraded OE head unit.

How much do they go for? Did it come with a camera or did you have to buy separately? Cheers.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

You can pick up the head unit on eBay or even your friendly dealer ripped out of a new car for around $300. The camera is also around $300. Yes it is a gold plated solution but it is 100% factory. Keep in mind the head unit isn't a GPS, I use my Nokia Lumia 820 for that. Mine just plugged in as the '08 model is pre-wired for a camera so you'll need to factor in running a cable to the rear for the camera.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Yeah, if I was in your shoes I think I'd copy what D4D has done. I tried for months to get one of these units (38005) from a dealer but they just looked blank at me, mentioned all there headunits go back for disposal and never sold on, ebay is possibly your best option? I believe indash headunits are a bit of a thing from the past so would not go spending shed loads on a pukka brand (pioneer etc). Tablets and i pads appear the future of navigation?? I spent a little more than D4D on an aftermarket GPS one, just have not got round to installing it. It's got all the extras (B Tooth, DVD, MP3) compared to my 2003 OEM which is prehistoric so I could justify the biggish outlay. R. Camera cost me extra years ago. Yours is a similar vintage to mine. Just gotta get round to installing it all, will transform the car?? In this scenario (entertainment & safety) it's nice getting something you really want not making do with something you may regret later!!

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

We've got a mirror one, and it works OK for us, but it was installed by the previous owner.
Works well for what it is. I'd probably go for an in-dash one if I was installing myself.

[Guest Close Guest]

Just bought this clip-on mirror monitor. It has a separate anti-glare screen for the reverse camera.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/350576919...84.m1497.l2649

I'm waiting for it to arrive. It's going in the missus' car to replace the old one. Hopefully this one is much better.

[sellit99 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sellit99]

I have a Smartpark installed in my 120. It is a complete unit. It's brilliant, screen brightness is adjustable and high definition. Works brilliantly when backing and parking and hooking up the camper. You can even put it on when driving if the back is packed up high. I would recommend to anyone.

[Peter SA Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Peter SA]

I drove a mini-bus (or as I prefer to call them Dinky Toys) the other week that had a reverse camera display on the mirror. I didn't like it, I found it quite disorientating, probably because I reverse on my door mirrors but they were way too small on this vehicle, smaller probably than those on my Prado.

[JTX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JTX]

Hi,

I've an FJ which comes standard with a ~1" reversing display in the rear vision mirror.

Better than nothing, but I don't really like it. IMHO it's far too small to be useful... but YMMV.

I'll probably upgrade soon to a console nav system with integrated reversing mirror.

[Guest Close Guest]

Just bought this clip-on mirror monitor. It has a separate anti-glare screen for the reverse camera.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/350576919...84.m1497.l2649I'm waiting for it to arrive. It's going in the missus' car to replace the old one. Hopefully this one is much better.

the clip-on mirror monitor has arrived and installed.

It is smaller and thinner, therefore lighter, then the existing one. It also doesn't vibrate like the old one, just a little bit but tolerable.

The main thing is that there is no longer any glare when looking at the reverse monitor. The image is great and I don't find it too small to look at.

The only negative is that the mirror part is a bit small, meaning that you don't get the same wide view out the back. But the wing mirrors compensate for that.

Also there's the difference in the focussing of your eyes between the reverse monitor and the mirror. However, I just learn to only look at the reverse monitor when reversing and not at the mirror cause it can be a bit disorientating as mentioned above.

Overall, a good value for money buy and good vision out the back through the monitor. It is cheaper than upgrading your stereo if you are already happy with the stereo.

I'm now waiting for a reverse camera to replace the current one as the lens is a bit scratched up.